Edinburgh Trams has won the Operator of the Year category at the 2015 Light Rail Awards following a successful first sixteen months of service. The awards, which took place last night, recognise excellence and innovations in the light and urban rail sector across the world.

Transport Convener Lesley Hinds said:

Everyone at Edinburgh Trams can take great pride in what they have achieved. The team have put in a huge effort to make Edinburgh’s new tram service a success and they deserve all the credit for this award.

Edinburgh Trams will trial extended service times for six weeks from 19 October to help passengers make earlier flight connections and improve the service provided at Ingliston Park & Ride. 

Trams leaving York Place will depart 29 minutes earlier and the first departure from the airport will be 89 minutes earlier than at present.

Lesley Hinds, Chair of Transport for Edinburgh said:

Transport for Edinburgh is delighted to be supporting the Edinburgh Restaurant Festival 2015.

Running from 8-18 October, the festival will include a wide variety of mouthwatering events to get your teeth into including the Grassmarket Foodie Day, the Edinburgh Street Feastival and the chance to eat at at some of Edinburgh's top restaurants for only £15 per person.

John Donnelly, Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh commented:

Streets Ahead Road Safety in Edinburgh was launched in May 2010 as a focus for all road safety activity in the city with the City of Edinburgh Council is working in partnership with the various agencies to encourage safer travel in our city for everyone.

For the past five years, the organisation have held an event at The Corn Exchange for sixth year pupils from Edinburgh schools to educate them on the risks and responsibilities they face as newly qualified drivers at a time when young people may well be thinking about taking lessons.  

DAYticket offers unlimited travel* on Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, offering endless possibilities throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians

Get to work in the morning, head to the gym then off to meet friends for dinner.  At the weekend, you can go shopping, pop to your mums, go home, get changed and out for the night all with one great value DAYticket.  Jump on as many buses and trams are you like and the ticket price doesn't change.

Edinburgh Trams, Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Bus Tours are delighted to be playing a part in this years festive season as the Official Transport Partner of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2015.

Edinburgh’s Christmas promises to deliver the biggest and brightest Christmas festival ever seen in the UK.

With over 880,000 people attending the many events that make up Edinburgh’s Christmas last year and many more expected this year, Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams will be ready to get everyone to where they want to go.

Edinburgh Trams has been shortlisted in the Operator of the Year category at this year’s Global Light Rail Awards. The awards, which take place in October, are set up to recognise excellence and innovations in the global light and urban rail sector.

Ian Craig, Chief Executive of Transport for Edinburgh, said:

We are delighted to be shortlisted as finalists for this award, the second prestigious national nomination we have received this year.

Edinburgh Trams is trialling window filters on one of its trams to help control on board temperatures.

The tram has been fitted with an ultraviolet-resistant film as a result of passenger feedback on tram temperatures.

The film is currently being assessed but is already proving popular with staff.

Interim tram director and general manager Ian Craig said:

Edinburgh Trams has carried almost 3.6 million passengers so far in 2015 with 1.55 million using the service from 31 May -  4th September, a figure of 50,000 more than over the same period in 2014. 

The week ending 15 August was the busiest of the year so far, and the busiest week ever, with 137,000 passengers getting on board.

23,000 passengers used the service on Saturday 29 August making it the busiest day.  

As the City returns to normal and everyone is back at work, college and university, the number of people looking to buy and renew Ridacards increases.

To ensure everyone gets the opportunity to sort their travel needs, Transport for Edinburgh is extending the opening times of its Waverley Bridge Travelshop on specific dates over the next 2 weeks as follows: